Wildfire uncovers portion of Oregon Trail

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A wildfire that damaged or destroyed nearly 20 homes last month also revealed remnants of the Oregon Trail.

Members of the Idaho chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association plan to mark portions of the pioneer trail now visible after the Aug. 25 fire.

Before the blaze, two parallel paths totaling about half a mile had been covered by sagebrush and cheatgrass. The paths stretch across a field below a ridge where the homes burned. They were discovered in satellite photographs.

Association member Wally Meyer said the last wagon through southeast Boise about 1890 probably crossed the property, now owned by the Idaho Power Co., which is negotiating with the group to allow signs along the newly found paths.

During his 30-year career with the Bureau of Land Management, Meyer said he marked about 150 miles of migrant trail remnants on public land in southwest Idaho. The recent discovery is not a major surprise, given what's known about the Oregon Trail's route through Boise, he said.

"Nobody's ever really looked before," Meyer said. "I've always kind of wondered. But it didn't pay to check these because there was pretty tall sagebrush and growth there. But the Oregon Trail is always easy to find after a fire."